FORECAST IN DETAIL

Today’s potential downpours, and at least periodically gusty winds, announce the arrival of a much anticipated cold front. It brings behind it a cooler air mass, most definitely felt by Sunday. After we get through today, sunshine really does its best to make appearances on the regular, but it does have the chance to be interrupted by a stray shower, some clouds, and occasional cool breezes. Bundle up needed by Sunday as we start feeling a bit less muggy and more like November!

Radar & lightning: Latest D.C. area radar shows movement of precipitation and lightning strikes over past two hours. Refresh page to update. Click here or on image to enlarge. Or see radar bigger on our Weather Wall.

Today (Friday): Our morning brings muggy 10-20 mph winds out of the southwest that could gust to around 35 mph (and higher to the west) even outside of any showers. This is accompanied by scattered to numerous showers (70-80% chance)… maybe even some rumbles. Higher wind gusts (isolated damaging?) are possible if we get really robust showers/t’showers as well! By afternoon, we should have rain tapering. Overall, not a big precipitation maker, but spots could end up with 0.25″-0.50″ if under a downpour long enough. Hit-or-miss though? Clouds hold tight much or all of the day, perhaps keeping highs near 70. We may head well into the 70s should we “max out” on warmth thanks to any extra afternoon sunshine. Confidence: Low-Medium

Tonight: One last gasp of showers may attempt to come through our area, but mainly before 8 p.m. and with only a 30% chance of getting wet. Clouds stay fairly present, though luckily the winds aren’t too bad as they shift more noticeably to coming from the north and northwest around 5-10 mph. Should we open the windows or hoard our muggy air as it dries out? Low temperatures dip into the upper 40s to low 50s. Confidence: Medium-High

Tomorrow (Saturday): Overall it’s looking grand, and perhaps almost meeting Nice Day criteria if it weren’t for generally abundant morning sun possibly giving way to clouds during the afternoon. High temperatures still head for at least the mid-60s though. Remember: foliage is bright on its own and still looks mighty fine in any cloudier times! Be sure to check it out before it’s gone. West breezes blow relatively gently at 5-10 mph. Confidence: Medium-High

Tomorrow night: A few clouds may continue to cover the stars, but hopefully not completely despite a small (10-20% chance) of a shower before dawn. Ok I will not care much as long as I can enjoy my extra hour of sleep (and return of sunshine to the early morning). Also, as long as I don’t have to endure northwesterly breezes around 10 mph reinforcing our cool air mass. Low-to-mid 40s appear likely before sunrise. Confidence: Medium-High

Sunday: Skies should brighten quickly, despite a partial solar eclipse underway very early in the day. Generally, we can enjoy lots of sunshine throughout. But to counteract it, some gusty wind at times from the north and northwest could make seasonably chilly mid-to-upper 50s feel a bit cool at times. Stay out of the shade! Confidence: Medium

A LOOK AHEAD

Sunday night: Mostly clear and brrrr. Temperatures fall easily in such clear and dry air, back to and below freezing in many of the suburbs and maybe even low-to-mid 30s downtown. As many places have now seen a freeze, and we’re getting deeper into the cold season, perhaps something to be expected. Confidence: Medium

Monday tricks us a bit with some decently bright sunshine, minus its warming effects. High temperatures may hold in the low-to-mid 50s during what’s otherwise a decent day overall. A few clouds are possible late. Confidence: Medium-High

Tuesday could remain fairly cloudy at times, but I am not ready to call gray skies the winner just yet on this Election Day. Dry conditions are quite likely as it appears now. No excuse not to vote! It should be fairly comfortable as well, with high temperatures trying to head back to around 60. Confidence: Low-Medium